Article provided by Redfin

At Redfin, we know that sometimes your home away from home is a tent hidden in the woods. And it wouldn’t feel like your second home without your dog by your side. With summer in full swing, Redfin has compiled the ultimate safety guide for camping with your dog! Camping with your dogs requires a bit of preparation and safety precautions to ensure that you and your dogs can enjoy a safe and fun outdoor adventure – but we’re here to help! We’ve covered important health and safety precautions as well as how to pack the right safety and comfort essentials for your beloved furry family members, and will arm you with important safety tips and information to keep your dogs safe at and around your campsite.

What You’ll Find in This Guide:

1. Before You Go: Health Checkups and Safety Supplies
2. Packing for Your Dog
3. Dog-Safe Best Practices at the Campsite

Redfin employee Brittany hanging out with her pup, Rugby / Photo credit: Noelle Marchesini

Before You Go: Health Checkups and Safety Supplies

This section covers all the know-before-you-go information that you should take care of before planning a camping trip with your dog, preventative veterinary care tips, and more.

First things first: schedule a visit to the veterinarian for a health checkup. If your dog’s health isn’t optimal, ordinary camping hazards can quickly become serious dangers, so you should discuss your camping plans with your veterinarian. If you plan to take your dog backpacking,  you’ll want to make sure that your dog is up to the task physically. Aging or chronically ill dogs may not be physically able to keep up with a daunting trek, so it might be wise to leave Fido with a trusted caregiver in such a scenario.

Check your dog’s records or double-check with your regular veterinarian to ensure that you’re on top of all preventative care, such as core vaccinations like the Rabies vaccine, as it’s possible that your dog may encounter a wild animal with the disease in the great outdoors.

Pests such as fleas and ticks are often common in the wooded areas many people favor for camping. Consider having your dog vaccinated for Lyme disease and make sure that he’s been treated with flea and tick prevention. Additionally, heartworms are transmitted through mosquito bites, so make sure your dog’s preventative heartworm treatment is current for optimal protection.

Pack a first-aid kit with essentials. A few must-have supplies for dogs include:

• Coated aspirin for pain. Use with caution and give only the recommended dosage (between 5mg and 10mg per pound of body weight). You may also consider a safer alternative, but your best bet is to discuss it with your veterinarian before your trip for specific advice.
• Tweezers or tick removal tools and scissors
• Butterfly bandages, gauze, and/or bandages designed for pets to close wounds.
• Rubbing alcohol or antiseptic to clean wounds.
• First aid gel or spray designed for pets.

If your pet takes medication regularly for a chronic health condition, take enough medication for the duration of your trip, plus enough to last at least a few extra days. You never know what you’ll encounter in the wilderness, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Take copies of your dog’s health records, including vaccination history, and locate the veterinary clinic closest to your campsite before you leave. Save or print the phone number and directions so that they’re easily accessible in case of emergency. Finally, make sure that your dog’s microchip registration is up to date and that your pet has a tag with complete and accurate information so that finders can easily locate you should your dog get lost. If you know ahead of time that you may not have reliable wireless service, you might also consider adding your veterinarian’s phone number or the contact information for a trusted friend or relative.

Redfin employee, Bailey, lets Tonka take a dip

Packing for Your Dog

This section covers the essential packing list for camping with your dog, including supplies for nutrition, water safety, and just plain fun.

You’ll need more than first-aid supplies for a camping trip with your furry friend, of course. You’ll want to pack your dog’s food and water dishes, as well as enough fresh water to last the duration of your trip plus a few extra days, unless you’re camping at a site with a readily-available supply of fresh water. If it’s going to be warm, keep in mind that your dog may need to drink more water than usual. Take an ample supply of your dog’s regular food and treats, as well. Your dog will have to do his or her business as usual, so you’ll need a good supply of dog waste bags to keep your campsite free of waste and avoid disgruntled fellow campers.

You’ll also want to pack a leash or two, as well as whatever supplies you’ll need to tether your dog while outdoors. Pack your dog’s bed so that he or she can get a comfortable night’s rest. Some dogs prefer to sleep in their crate, but it’s a good idea to take a dog crate or carrier regardless in the event that you need to confine your pup. If the weather will be cooler in the evenings, pack blankets or a dog jacket to keep your furry friend warm in the elements. If you’re heading to a destination near water, a dog life preserver is a good idea, as well as plenty of extra towels to dry your dog off after a swim.

Don’t forget about enrichment. Does your dog have a favorite toy? Take a few trinkets such as balls, frisbees, and squeaky toys to keep your dog entertained. The other items you’ll need to pack for your dog depend on your plans. If you plan on going hiking, for instance, you’ll want a portable water dish that you can easily store in your backpack to keep your dog hydrated throughout the day.

Sushiil, Redfin’s E-Learning Specialist, has a camping Corgi named Mugi

Dog-Safe Best Practices at the Campsite

This section provides helpful tips for monitoring your dog’s health and maintaining a safe environment for your dog and other campers.

Many campgrounds require that dogs be leashed at all times. Make sure you know and understand the rules if you’re heading for a managed campground; some even specify the maximum lead length permitted. Some campgrounds prohibit dogs altogether, while others place limits on the size or number of dogs permitted. Researching before you go is a must.

Keep an eye on your dog’s well-being throughout your trip. If the weather is hot and humid, you can bet your dog is feeling the heat, too. Watch for signs of heat stroke, such as excessive panting, excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or seizures. If you suspect your dog has heat stroke, wrap your dog in a towel soaked in cool water and get her to a veterinarian immediately.

Ideally, you’ve already spent time training your dog, but if your dog isn’t the most well-trained pup in the pack, it’s a good idea to start slowly, taking a few short trips to see how your dog fares when exposed to the many new experiences he’ll have during a camping trip. The many sights, sounds, people, and scents can send even well-trained dogs into a flurry of excitement, so testing the waters and learning how to work with your dog to manage behavior will ensure not only his or her safety, but the safety of fellow campers and animals, both domestic and wild.

At minimum, your dog should obey a few essential commands, such as “sit,” “stay,” and “leave it.” If you don’t know how your dog will react to strangers, particularly excited children, use extreme caution until you’re comfortable with your dog’s temperament in new situations. These commands will come in handy for situations such as encountering poisonous plants or other hazardous substances; a dog who obeys the “leave it!” command will be much more easily redirected than a dog who can think of nothing else but devouring those delicious-looking leaves or berries. You should do your research to know which plants your dog must steer clear of and how to identify them in order to be proactive about keeping your dog away from these dangerous plants.

Above all, have fun! A camping trip is a great opportunity to kick back and relax. When you take the proper precautions and keep safety top-of-mind, a camping trip is an enjoyable bonding experience for humans and dogs alike.

Resources on Safe Camping with Dogs

This section provides valuable resources on dog health, camping safety, and other essential information for a safe and enjoyable camping trip with your furry friend.

Camping with Dogs offers a wide range of articles about camping safely with your dog.

Ruffwear’s Blog provides advice on all types of outdoor activities with your dog and products to keep them save.

IHeartDogs.com provides 12 important safety tips for camping with your dog.

The ASPCA offers a comprehensive guide to vaccinations for your dog, including information on core and non-core vaccines, regulations and risks associated with vaccination, and how to determine the proper vaccination schedule for your dog.

GearJunkie is an excellent resource for discovering the essential outdoor gear your dog needs for a fun outdoor adventure.

Dogster.com also covers some common outdoor risks for dogs, including helpful tips for helping your dog cope with anxiety from thunderstorms, preventing poisoning, and other helpful advice.

Even in the warmer months, when the sun goes down, the chill can set in. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers helpful cold weather safety tips for dogs and other pets.

CampTrip provides a useful guide for first-time camping with your dog, including tips for getting your dog in tip-top physical shape before your trip, acclimating your dog to tents, and more.

Mother Nature Network offers helpful advice for camping with your four-legged friends, including an informative discussion on determining whether your dog’s temperament is well-suited for camping.

The Humane Society provides a comprehensive list of what to include in a first-aid kit for your dog.

BarkPost names 10 ideal, dog-friendly camping destinations that are surely on every dog’s bucket list.

The Pet Poison Helpline provides a handy list of 10 plants poisonous to pets. Knowing how to identify the plants that your dog must avoid is essential for a safe and enjoyable camping experience.

The post The Complete Safety Guide for Camping with Dogs appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

If a storm hits at night with lightning and thunder he is scratching at the bed and trembling. I do my best to make him feel safe and protected by creating a small, tight space between the bed and a table where he can lay with my hand on him. During the day I will turn on music, tv, extra lights anything to dull out the noise and light. I even tried the Thundershirt. I don’t remember him always being afraid of storms.Why are dogs afraid and what can you do?

It actually appears to be a common problem in dogs to be afraid of loud noises such as thunder, fireworks, guns etc. In Holly Nash’s article on Doctors Foster and Smith peteducation.com website, she noted that a recent study conducted showed “certain breeds of dogs have an above average risk of developing noise phobias” like “Collies, German Shepherds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds.” “The study also found that dogs who had separation anxiety were more likely to also have noise and thunderstorm phobias.”

Patty Khuly, a vet in Miami wrote an article for USA Today called “10 Steps to calm dogs during lightning storms.” I was doing some of the things she suggested as well as others intuitively:

Few tips to help your pet during storms:

1-Create a safe place for your pet. It could be a crate, closet, some interior space that feels safe and is comfortable.

2-Try and mute the noise-move to a quieter location and add other calming noises-music, fan etc.

3- “Counter the effects of electromagnetism” “Though it may sound like voodoo, your dog can also become sensitized to the electromagnetic radiation caused by lightning strikes. One great way to shield your dog from these potentially fear-provoking waves is to cover her crate with a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Another method involves clothing her in a commercially available “Storm Defender” cape that does the same work. If she hides under the bed, consider slipping a layer of aluminum foil between the box-spring and mattress.”

4- “Offer treats, cuddlings and other good stuff when storms happen.” “This method is best employed before the phobia sets in –– as pups. Associating loud booms with treats is never a bad thing, right?”

5- “Desensitize him.” “Sometimes it’s possible to allay the fears by using thunderstorm sound CDs when it’s not raging outside. Play it at a low volume while plying him with positive stimuli (like treats and pettings). Increase the volume all the while, getting to those uncomfortable booming sounds over a period of weeks. It works well for some.”

If nothing is working, talk to your vet about possible medication or a referral for a veterinary behaviorist.

I am thankful Winston’s response seems minor in comparison to others. Nash’s article  offers an extensive list of noise phobia signs including: “Hiding (most common sign in cats), Urinating, Defecating, Chewing, Panting, Pacing, Trying to escape (digging, jumping through windows or going through walls, running away), Drooling, Seeking the owner, Expressing anal glands, Not eating, Not listening to commands, Trembling or shaking, Dilated pupils, Vocalizing (barking or meowing).”

My sister in law, who is a vet, rescued a Border Collie when he was two. After years of enduring bad storms in southern Florida and heightened stress, anxiety and destruction she choose to let her parents, who lived in the midwest, care for him. While it was incredibly sad to not have him around daily, he was much happier in an environment that was less stressful.

Other helpful articles:
“Fear of Thunder and Other Loud Noises” Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behavorists at teh Dumb Friends League, Dencer, Colo featured on The Humane Society of The United States

“Thunderstorms: Help Your Pet Conquer Fear” Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

The post Why do some dogs fear storms? appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Dave thought he took it mainly in the face-not good but he wasn’t bitten or visibly injured. The only concern were his eyes. He was rubbing them and they were red and teary. We called our sister in law, who is a vet, to help us determine if we needed medical attention. She seemed to think it was okay to watch him and so we shifted gears to focus on the smell. Several articles conferred that tomato juice is not the way to go and the newest homemade concoction includes-baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and dishwashing detergent.

Here are the ingredients, keep them on hand

-1 quart hydrogen peroxide
-¼ cup of baking soda
-1 tsp of dishwashing detergent preferably Dawn (any will do)
***if you have a large dog you may need to double, triple the recipe

My sister in law sent a link to the very same concoction from Dr. Karen Becker. Read the article for helpful detailed directions on how to administer the bath.

I sprinted off to the nearest pharmacy to buy the critical ingredients, some gloves, and dog shampoo for after. I wished I had received my sister in law’s email first so that I could have bought enough ingredients for 2-3 treatments instead of just one. I got back, quickly made the recipe in a old juice container and Dave headed off to the self cleaning car station (only outside water source) at the apt. complex by himself because one of us had to stay with the kids. Once he left I was able to read the full article outlining the steps to treating your dog (NO WATER first). I quickly called Dave trying to stop him from putting water on the dog but I was too late.

Directions were to apply the solution directly on your dog and lather it in then let it sit until the smell subsides 5-10 minutes. Wash and repeat as necessary. ***But be very careful with the face, especially the eyes because the solution has hydrogen peroxide and could burn the eyes. Dave had enough for only one treatment, washed poor Winston off with practically a power washer and came back. He hadn’t done his face yet (bad idea with power washer) and that was the part that smelled the worst.  I located a small amount of hydrogen peroxide I had, mixed up a smaller batch in a juice box, got some towels and a sponge so we could gently apply the solution on his face, around his eyes.

We snuck Winston into the bathroom, passed a sleeping child, and washed his face and gave him a warm rinse before drying him off. All his hair in the bath stopped up the drain-oh well. He was trying to rub his eyes on me a lot. As soon as we toweled him off we put him on the little porch to dry off. He proceeded to throw up a significant amount. Thank goodness he was on the porch. It literally smelled like he had eaten the skunk. I was worried that he might be really sick and that maybe we should take him into the vet. Back to the search engines.

On all accounts nausea and throwing up seemed common after a skunk spray but the main concern were the eyes. According to a client sheet by Cheryl Yuill, DVM, MSc, CVH, if sprayed in the eyes there’s concern because “it can damage the delicate cornea of the eye and cause temporary blindness.” I called back our sister in law to see if we should go the emergency vet clinic. She thought not but said she would not be the one to tell us not to go. I called the local emergency pet clinic, Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners, to inquire about wait and cost. They were extremely cordial and said no one was waiting and it was $85 which to me seemed pretty reasonable for an after hours emergency clinic. I told the receptionist what happened and said we were concerned about the eyes and that he had thrown up. She checked with a tech and confirmed everything we had already done-bath ingredients-careful with eyes, vomiting normal and said to flush the eyes with water if possible.

While I was writing the article, Dave was off on another pharmacy run of which he has been to three because most close at 10p.m. to get saline solution and gentil, an eye lubricant to help Winston’s eye discomfort. While it was challenging couple of hours (fun Friday night) and a comedy of errors, at least the kids were asleep and we were able to give Winston our full attention. All in all, it’s good to know what to do when you are sprayed by a skunk, however unlikely.

(Originally written August 2012)

The post Skunk Attack, blow by blow personal story and helpful recipe appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

We were out of town for Memorial Day Weekend when our dog Winston tore his ACL. We headed home early to seek medical attention, schedule surgery and start the healing and recovery. We would do anything for our dog but it has been harder than we thought. The 12 week recovery requires strict physical limitations, only standing on the leg to go to the bathroom the first three weeks followed by a 5 minute walk on week four and increasing slowly.

I didn’t realize how hard it would be to keep Winston off his feet. In some ways it feels like we have a newborn child requiring constant attention. We are committed to doing it, my summer outlook has just changed. Below is a timeline and some highlights of each days triumphs and tribulations. Each day we will try and update his progress if you want to follow.

Sunday May 26-Winston injured leg while we were out of town. House sitter notified us.

Monday May 27-Winston still limping.

Tuesday May 28- Dave home, sets up the earliest vet appointment for the following day.

Wednesday May 29-Winston goes to the vet and he says he’s pretty sure he has torn his ACL, offers a few surgery referral options.

Friday, May 31-Friday he met with the referred surgeon and he said he was 99% sure he tore his ACL and described the surgical procedure and recovery in broad strokes. He said it would be best to just do the x-ray while he was sedated right before the surgery and that it would be a long hard recovery, needing to restrict Winston 10-12 weeks. Dave scheduled the surgery for the first available time slot, Wednesday at 9a.m.

He also received an itemized bill for what all the costs would entail and it amounted to a used car, sponsoring three children through World Vision, 30 patient visits at Siloam, food and supplies for a month for the Nashville Food Project, and the list goes on. The doctor also mentioned the fact that it happened in one leg means he is at increase risk for it happening in the other leg. Hmmm maybe we should look into pet insurance? It’s a lot of money but if you can pay it, you want to! It made me pause and think about how many people have pets that can’t afford to pay for expensive medical bills. I am thankful there are organizations like “Brown Dog Foundation“ that help cover costs but the need is always greater than the available funds.

Sunday, June 2-I headed home with the kids from NC. When we walked in the door Winston didn’t greet us like he normally does (avoiding stairs) but as soon as we found him he was ecstatic and starting running in circles (we call armadillo dog) and jumping, none of which were good for the leg. I immediately thought recovery may be hard trying to restrict him.

For the next few days (Sunday-Tuesday) we blocked off rooms so he wouldn’t do stairs, carried him up to bed and walked him on the leash to go outside to potty. Even though it wasn’t necessary we thought it would be good practice and helpful on his good knee which was already compensating for the bad knee. For some reason I thought I could walk him to the backyard and let him be free for a few minutes, that his leg would hurt so he wouldn’t run. I was wrong. As soon as I let him off he bore down on both legs and sprinted across the yard chasing chipmunks and running his loop. Good to know for after the surgery, we’ll just have to keep him on the leash at all times and it needs to be tight.

Tuesday, June 4- I couldn’t stop praying for him and enlisted some friends to do the same during surgery the next day.

Surgery Day

Wednesday, June 5
Wednesday morning I couldn’t help giving him a few extra hugs and trying to capture a snapshot in my head of what he looked like in case the unthinkable happened and he responded poorly to anesthesia and didn’t wake up. I had just read a chapter in Catherine Hickam’s book “Regret Free Parenting” about when she had a dream her son was in a car accident and instead of choosing to alter her day and protect him so choose to trust God and pray. Later that day she got a call from her daughter and her two kids were in an accident but everyone was okay. Part of her point was that when we worry or try and control things we basically are saying we don’t trust God. I was very intentional that day to keep praying and trusting. I was still worried but I kept asking God to take care of him.

Surgery was at 9a.m. and the doctor said he would try and call at 11:00. He said “don’t worry if you haven’t heard from me though. I may have another emergency that comes up and needs attention. If there is a problem we will contact you.” At 1:00 I was still waiting to hear and Dave and I were ready to call.

I spent a part of the day trying to prepare for his arrival home. He will have to wear one of those awful plastic cones (Elizabethean Collars) for a couple of weeks to keep him from licking his wound. I was doing some research to see if there were any better options out there. Seems to be the fabric (soft collar) that you can bend back for meals or the one that looks like an inner tube (big donut). That seems ideal so the pet can see and won’t bump into anything but I wonder if he will still be able to get to his back leg. Worth a try, always have the plastic cone as a backup.

Also got him an orthopedic, memory foam bed as he won’t be able to get up on furniture and we only have hard wood floors downstairs. I plan on sleeping downstairs on the sofa with him. Plus I had to pick up a babygate so that I could block the stairs.

At 1:20 I received the call from the doctor and sure enough there had been another emergency and that’s why he hadn’t called earlier. Winston did great in surgery. He had a complete ACL tear and a partially torn meniscus. They weren’t repairing any of the ligaments they were removing them and reshaping his shin bone so he doesn’t need them. I asked about the meniscus and what that meant? He said he would probably develop arthritis and perhaps earlier in life. Certainly didn’t sound like a horrible occurrence. Winston was in ICU and would stay there overnight. In the morning they would try and feed him and give him some pain meds orally and see how he did before releasing him that afternoon. He said 95% of those surgeries go home the next day. I like percentages except when you are in the lower percent. Huge sigh, hard part done, and everything seems to be okay-PRAISE GOD!!! Now we have to wait to get him home and begin the slow recovery process.

Thursday, June 6-Picked Winston up at the vet with both kids. The vet tech came in first read over the two page discharge papers and care instructions then had me sign off on them in case anything happened to him acknowledging it was my fault. When the vet came in and immediately said “looks like you have your hands full” just sitting with the kids. After he showed me the x-rays, and brought Winston in to look at his incision he walked us out opening the door and said “you sure you got this?” Not exactly a vote of confidence.

I confess I knew the recovery would be hard but I didn’t realize he wasn’t supposed to be on his feet at all except for going to the bathroom for the first two weeks. 24 hours later and it is much harder than I expected. It wouldn’t be so hard if I didn’t have two kids to take care of.

Staple area bleeding a little…normal?

The plan to contain him in a part of our family room wasn’t very successful. He is constantly up on his foot, wanting to go out. Carrying him (60 pounds) outside to potty isn’t easy either. Realizing we couldn’t leave him alone at all with this scenario I sent a message out on facebook asking to borrow a crate. He’s had no interest in the therapeutic bed I bought him, he prefers the bath rug. Finally about 9p.m. he settled down to rest. I slept on the sofa beside him while he moved about with the cone. Not a bad night really but this morning he was up and at it again, moving around too much. I finally got him in the crate but when I went to put the cone on he got out. Three attempts to get him back in ended with him pushing off and landing on his bad leg-not good. I’ll just have to forgo the shower for now.

Week 1

Friday June 7
Tried putting Winston in the crate. He didn’t like it but I wanted to get used to it so we could leave the house at some point. I opened it to put the cone on so I could shower and he pushed his way out. Three attempts to put him back in ended with him pushing off with his front legs and landing on his back-not good. So thankful a sitter came to get the kids out of the house! Started to eat a little which is good! I sat with him all morning then carried him to the computer and put his bed down beside me so he could sit while I worked.

ALSO great news! Cary (featured pet) was adopted! Lifted my spirits.

Still way to mobile, hard to confine. Wants to go out, stands at the door and when I take him he won’t potty tries to walk to backyard. Good news is he at least isn’t going after his staples so the cone can stay off while we are around. Thinking ahead to next week when Dave is out of town and wondering how I can take care of everyone. Winston is like an infant right now. These first two weeks are going to be tough especially when Dave has his surgery next Friday (torn lateral meniscus). Ate a little too!

Called our vet to see if we should give him a mild sedative to help him sleep (stay off of his leg while it heals)Dave slept downstairs with him.

Saturday, June 8, 2013-Mr. Mobile again. Still not going to the bathroom much. Dave tried to see if we could put his bed and quarantine him on the porch so he could enjoy the fresh air-didn’t work. Gave him ¼ of a pill (sedative) and an hour later was asleep. I don’t believe it! The first time in days that he has slept during the day-ahhhhh! Last thing I want to do is drug our dog but he’s off his leg which will let it heal. Of course, I walked out the door to buckle our daughter in her car seat and look what happened. Clearly he jumped up on the sofa which he is not supposed to do. Can’t leave him for a second.

Sunday, June 9-Actually left him alone for the first time since surgery to go to church. Carried him up to a second story bathroom and put the collar on. Not happy but it seemed to work out okay.

Monday June 10-FINALLY pooped!!!
Had to carry him down 14 stairs and to the back of the back yard but he did it! Never thought I would be so excited about a poop and that I would tell people!
Bad thunderstorms, still shakes even when sedated.
Rough night of sleeping downstairs. I didn’t sleep much and both kids visited me at different times in the night since I am the single parent this week. Going to carry him up to our bedroom tomorrow night and put him in the bathroom, need a good night of sleep.

Tuesday June 11-Dave out of town and by 8 have already carried Winston out four times (2x in front, 2x in back) because he appears to need to go potty. I didn’t realize 60 pounds could be so hard to carry Hope my back holds out as Dave is having surgery Friday and I will definitely be the only one carrying our dog.

Week 2

Wednesday June 12- A week since surgery, doing pretty well. Carried up to the bedroom so I could get some sleep.  My back is hurting can’t wait for Dave to return home.

Thursday June 13- His hair is starting to grow back.

Friday June 14- Dave’s surgery Day (torn lateral meniscus like Winston). Poor Winston had his first accident since he was a puppy. We were only gone for 5 hours but he obviously had to go. Washing the comforter and airing out the bathroom.

Saturday-Monday June 15-17-I’ve had a reprieve from carrying Winston upstairs to confine him when we leave the house or go to sleep because Dave is laid up recovering from his torn meniscus surgery. The men of the house are both hanging out in the family room together:) Thankful surgery went well for them both. Some funny similarities in the recovery process. So far Dave is a better patient.

Tuesday June 18- First Post-Op visit to the Vet to get Winston’s staples out. Rough visit because of the wait and other dogs but the vet said he looked good, 10 more weeks. At least he doesn’t have to wear the plastic cone collar when we leave the house anymore-yippee!!!

Week 3

Friday June 21- Accidental Overdose

Somewhere in my exhaustion managing medications for two patients I grabbed the wrong bottle and instead of giving Winston 2 pain killers I gave him 2 sedatives and I didn’t know it. About lunch time I noticed Winston was lethargic and not very responsive. To my knowledge nothing had changed. I worried he had a stroke, re-injured his leg and was in shock or had heat stroke. The kids and I took him to the emergency vet clinic where he had his ACL surgery in case it was related and no one could figure out what was wrong with him. His vitals seemed good but he absolutely looked off. We decided to run a blood test to rule out things. As soon as we left him his blood pressure dropped and he had a fainting spell. They went ahead and hooked him up to an IV and gave him some fluids. When I got home I noticed the green (sedative) pill box was in a different location on the counter and I wondered… I counted the pills and figured that’s what I must have done. I immediately called the vet and she said that’s got to be it. They went ahead and monitored him for the rest of the afternoon and he was very sleepy for the next 24 hours. Needless to say I felt like a horrible person! After all that he had previously been through, I drugged him, hauled him off the the emergency vet where he had to undergo additional medical treatment. A little scared about the cost… Thank you Winston for forgiving me.

Week 4

His hair is starting to grow back!

Week 5

Winston had three days of potty problems (sparing descriptions and pictures although I did have to take a sample). He picked up Giardia and needed frequent trips outside. I got to cook him chicken, pasta and rice. At least he didn’t look at his plate and say “yucky” like my five year old. He loved it all! Antibiotics cleared it up in a few days. Poor guy he’s been through the ringer.

Week 6

Wishing my husband could lift/carry Winston upstairs to the bedroom…

Week 7

Had a pet sitter take care of Winston while we had a family vacation. Sad not to take Winston but had no idea how nice it was to have a break of lifting, quarantining and walking him on the leash.

Week 8

Wow, he seems much improved. He’s putting weight consistently on the leg and is walking well. The problem is he thinks he is 100% and wants to roam, run free outside, climb stairs and jump up on all the furniture. He doesn’t understand why he can’t get on the sofa:( Three more weeks until we get his follow up x-rays and see if his physical restrictions can be lifted.

Week 11

We had our follow up appointment and x-rays, hoping for a green light to resume full activities with no restrictions. Good News: Plate in place, bone healing nicely. Bad News: 85% healed, noticeable muscle atrophy. He needs three more weeks of being on the leash outside and needs to double his exercise (walks) to help build muscle. He can be loose in the house now and can jump on the sofa. That makes him happy:) It’s been a long road but he is worth it!

Week 12

Winston jumped on the bed for the first time! He’s doing great.

Week 13

The day we get approval for him to run free is the day part of our fence has to be taken out to clear a tree that has fallen. So funny! Oh well, at least we are used to walking him. Another month or so won’t hurt any of us. So thankful he is healed!

The post ACL injury and recovery timeline, plus triumphs and challenges appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

One featured animal in the show is the Eastern Box Turtle, which is actually “the official state reptile of both North Carolina and Tennessee,” (http://www.boxturtles.com).

Did you know that it is illegal to have a turtle as a pet in Tennessee?

Eastern Box turtles are considered a threatened species (step prior to endangered) and thrive in their natural forest habitat filled with dense leaf cover. “Their territory consists of an area less than 200m in diameter,” (http://www.bio.davidson.edu) but their survival is threatened with urban development. The loss of rich habitat and an increasing number of accidents (hit by cars, trains, lawnmowers etc.) are greatly affecting their lifespan and ultimately their future.

If you find a turtle, what should you do?

Eastern Box Turtles were created with an amazing homing sense. This is especially important if you find a turtle crossing a busy street and want to help. Make sure you pick up the turtle and place him/her across the road in the direction he/she was heading. If you take him/her backwards, he/she will just try to cross the street again. If you just spot a turtle in the wilderness, leave him/her alone. If you find an injured turtle, contact our local wildlife center, Walden’s Puddle,  and record the “EXACT location where it was found so it can be returned there when it has recovered,” (http://www.waldenspuddle.org).

Other fun facts:
They are “The only turtle in Tennessee that can completely close itself in its shell (and very tightly) due to its broad hinged lower shell.” (http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org)

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The post Tennessee’s state reptile is the Eastern Box Turtle- LEARN MORE! appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

We spent the weekend trying to prepare for the possible end and trying to say goodbye.

I am so thankful for growing up in a family that had animals and treated them like members of the family. For different reasons, when our animals passed I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye and it clearly was upsetting.

I felt it was important for my kids to be able to have a chance to say goodbye to Addison. Much of Saturday I spent crying, grieving the possible loss of my 15 year old faithful companion still uncertain of the prognosis. My children’s responses to my sadness and my words were encouraging.

They matter of factly, asked if she was going to die and very simply said “I don’t want her to die”. I explained that I didn’t know when she would go to heaven, that only God knew. I explained that I didn’t get to say goodbye to my pets growing up and I wanted them to make sure they got to say goodbye and whatever they wanted to let Addison know. We talked about heaven and how beautiful a place it would be. How there was no pain in heaven and we would see Addison again there one day.

My five year old kept saying why are you crying mom? and I explained that even though she was going to the most amazing place that I would still miss her. My four year old reminded me that “she would always be in our hearts”. They seemed more resilient and less affected than I was which was encouraging. 

At the same time, they took it to heart. My five year old asked if I could take a picture of her and Addison, print it out immediately and put it in a frame. We went upstairs and had a photo shoot, printed out the pictures and found frames. Each daughter put their picture beside their bed. My oldest said see mom every morning when I wake up I’ll see her. As sweet as it was I had to chime in, “she’s still with us”.

Before heading off to school the next day my oldest asked me if Addison was going to die and I explained I didn’t know. She asked if I would let her teacher know to tell her. I said it would be better coming from me. She ran up to my room to say goodbye to Addison before leaving for school and the teacher noticed she seemed a little down walking into class. My husband explained why. She was taking it to heart but seemed so mature about dealing with it.

My youngest and I took her to the vet and thankfully it was not the end. She either has a large mass in her bladder or it’s severely swollen. We are hoping it’s very swollen, are treating her with antibiotics and will take her back in a week for another ultrasound to check for improvement.

I do have this fear that she will pass away while we are out of town, like my last cat did, and I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want to leave although I also know God didn’t want me to be present when Sadie passed away. Why is that? Will I not be able to handle it?

I pray for her-for healing, for no pain and for peace. I pray for wisdom to know how to best care for her especially if that means making tough decisions and how best to tell our kids.

For now, I am thankful that the children will handle it well, probably much better than I will. I am also thankful that Addison has been a fighter, having lived a long life with lots of health issues. She has blessed me and our family beyond words.

UPDATE:

Addison passed away last Saturday, April 12. It was time but it never feels like it’s time. (To read more about having to say the final goodbyes and the euthanization process read Tough Decision).

Other Articles on Addison

Addison’s initial diagnosis
Overcoming Fear of Needles, treating a cat with Su-Q fluids at home
Diagnosed with Cat Allergies
Tough Decisions: When to put your cat to sleep?

The post Children Saying Goodbye to a Family Pet appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

These precious six kittens were born Thursday, May 1.

The two tortoiseshells were females and the four orange tabbies were all male.They have been a delight to care for and have brought much joy to our family. Mama June has been the best mom any kitty could ask for. We are thankful for the four individuals/families that have adopted four of the kitties so far.

If you want to learn more about how we rescued their mom, CLICK HERE.

If you are interested in adopting a kitten, email us at contact@straymagnet.com.

The post Watch Kittens Live appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Saturday we had to say goodbye to Addison, my beloved cat of 15 years (read more).

It was a heart wrenching goodbye and I thought it would be months before we would rescue another kitty or two and take them into our home. God had a different plan.

God’s Timing

Monday morning I received an email about a pregnant stray cat living in a warehouse. I contacted several rescues and spay and neuter services and was sad to hear that really there weren’t many good options for a pregnant feral cat. Either no one would help or they would just spay the kitty and kill the kittens.

I had wondered if we were supposed to care for the mom through her pregnancy and then help them all find homes. I kept praying about it. I was really excited about the opportunity to help a mom and watch kittens grow and be weaned. We wouldn’t normally ever have the chance as we always spay and neuter our pets because of the overpopulation problem.

I also knew the kids would love it as our oldest is watching butterflies and chicks develop in school right now. What a joy to care for a mom as she gives birth and cares for her babies.

Appropriate Rescue Steps

I checked with a vet to see what the best protocol was and she warned me that she needed to be tested for feline leukemia and HIV before determining anything. According to the ASPCA “FeLV weakens an animal’s immune system and predisposes cats to a variety of infections and diseases, including anemia, kidney disease and lymphosarcoma, a highly malignant and fatal cancer of the lymph system.” “Sadly there is no cure for FeLV, and it is estimated that less than 20 percent of clinically infected cats survive more than three years of active infection.” Feline Leukemia cats can’t be around other cats, have low life expectancy and thus are very hard to adopt.

I called my husband for approval to go and take the cat to the vet and just see…

On my way to the vet I prayed Lord guide me with what you want us to do. I haven’t even seen this cat, it may not be friendly, it may be sick, it’s not the timing of when I thought we would be getting a cat, is this what we are supposed to do? If the cat is not tame, it will be hard to find it a home. I hope it’s healthy. Please Lord, let the cat be healthy. I don’t know what I would do if it had Feline Leukemia.

Warehouse in Nashville

I arrived at the warehouse and met Miss. Kitty. She had been living in the warehouse since December. When the cold weather set in, she found a broken window, snuck in and made the warehouse her home. The employees brought her food and blankets and gave her love. Several employees came to say goodbye. They had clearly developed strong connections and cared deeply for the kitty but none were able to take her home.

I took Kitty to the vet for a thorough check up and to be tested for feline leukemia and aids.  I didn’t want to get too excited not knowing the outcome but surely God didn’t bring this cat into our lives just to have to her die.

Vet Visit

At 3:30 we got the call from the vet she was negative on the two tests but had hook and round worms, easily treatable. She said she definitely was pregnant and to expect kittens in 2-14 days. She said she purred while they examined her and seemed to be a good one:) I asked how old she was and she said probably not even a year, she’s what we call a “teen mom”.

The girls and I ran by PetSmart to pick out toys, liter and some quality kitten food (pregnant mom’s diet) then we went to pick her up. We brought her home and created her own space in a bathroom with food, a treehouse, toys and a liter box. She hadn’t gone to the bathroom in a liter box yet but cats pick it up fast.

Foster or Adopt?

I still wondered if we would keep her forever or just foster her through the birth and weening of her kittens. As we got her settled she immediately took to us all. She couldn’t get enough love, getting in anyone’s lap that would let her and rubbing up against everyone. My five year old, my non emotional child, started to cry because she was so affectionate and sweet.

A Sign

At dinner time my daughter went and got her library book that she had picked out that day at school. It was a picture of three cats that looked just like the one we brought home and had a section about giving birth to kittens. My daughter hasn’t brought home a cat book all year long. It was a sign to me that we should keep her but my husband still hadn’t met the cat.

My husband got home late that night and the girls went to bed anxious for an answer but he and I needed to talk about it and he needed to visit with her too. It only took a few minutes before he too fell in love and was making her a nesting box to have her kittens in. We decided we would keep her forever and probably one of her kittens although our 5 year old is hoping for two kittens, one for each of our girls:) God really has the most wonderful sense of humor!

We will be documenting the development of the kittens on the website, please keep posted…

Watch June, our rescued cat give birth to kittens and the development of them through the weaning stages. Kitty Cam available at http://straymagnet.com/watch-kittens-live

Other Resources:
Tips to Rescuing an animal

The post Rescuing a Pregnant Stray Cat appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

My personal experience with our cat Addison, April 12,2014

Addison, our beloved 15 year old cat, had been diagnosed with renal failure two years ago and it was progressing very slowly. We were able to manage it well with food until last month when her health seem to decline rather rapidly.

Signs That It Was Time

I kept struggling with the “when will you know it’s time” and what is the best for the cat/most humane-to be put to sleep or to die on her own although painfully. I prayed for wisdom and discernment. For a week she had been grinding her teeth whenever she ate which meant she had acid in her stomach so I also started giving her Pepcid in addition to her blood pressure medicine and her SUB-Q fluids. She started to miss the liter box. She would still purr for me but wouldn’t move much-mainly just to the liter box or the water bowl. She was slowly slipping away-just not herself. Then she wouldn’t eat-I tried it all chicken, turkey tuna. I started to prepare myself again-how many times do I have to cry thinking about her dying and she’s still with us.

Friday I told my husband we needed to talk about what to do. I was hoping she would make it to Easter (a week away) but she wasn’t eating and wasn’t getting any better.

She hadn’t eaten in three days was clearly dehydrated and wobbly on her feet. I wasn’t sure she would make it to Monday and the vet was open on Saturday if that was the humane decision. My sister in law (a vet) said she would make it til Monday but that she obviously wasn’t feeling well. She stopped purring when I patted her Friday which made me sad and I started thinking am I keeping her alive for me or for her and how hard it was to continually grieve the anticipation of her loss. I slept downstairs with her Friday night but she went to another room, a sign to me that she was slipping away.

Decisions

Saturday morning she wasn’t any better and it seemed like the right thing to let her peacefully go to heaven and stop holding on. My husband called the vet to make the appointment-the last of the day. I cried all morning. The kids said their goodbyes and seemed fine. As we went to get in the car I decided to let her enjoy the outdoors which she had been denied most of her life. She perked up and purred feeling the fresh air and hearing the birds. I wish I had let her play outside all morning.

She was my cat, my 15 year old friend so I knew I would stay with her til the end regardless of how hard it would be.

The Process

The vet tech’s name was Angel, how fitting as I know she is an angel right now. Dr. Given was great-very professional and considerate. They explained the process-two injections. First, she would be given a muscle relaxer to calm her and help her rest then after a few minutes they would administer the fatal medicine. It’s the only time I held her in my arms at the vet, normally she would have been so nervous she would have wanted to be in the crate.

They gave her the muscle relaxer and she immediately seemed to almost fall asleep. They gave us a few minutes while we told her how amazing she had been, thanked her, loved on her, told her we would miss her and prayed for and over her. When they returned to administer the medicine it seemed as if she were already gone. Then strangely, as she lay there I just worried she would wake back up. It didn’t seem real that she was gone. Her spirit was although her body lay still before me and I got to say goodbye one more time.

Goodbye Friend, You Were The Best

Addison, you were the most loyal loving cat I could have ever asked for. You blessed my life in so many ways and I will forever be grateful. I know you are in a better place and you are loving being outside in God’s wondrous heaven where all things are good. We miss you everyday but know you are looking down on us. We look forward to seeing you again one day. *Thank you for the pregnant mom you brought into our lives. It’s not what we expected but we know you have given us your blessing and want us to care for this young cat in her time of need. We love you. Always.

*Monday, I received a call about a pregnant stray cat that needed help. Read more about her and God’s providential timing.

Other Articles on Addison

Addison’s initial diagnosis
Overcoming Fear of Needles, treating a cat with Su-Q fluids at home
Saying Goodbye to a Family Pet
Diagnosed with Cat Allergies

The post Tough Decisions: When to put your cat to sleep? appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.

Health Decline

Addison, our beloved 15 year old cat has been in renal failure (kidney failure) for almost two years. Over the last month her health has taken a turn downhill. She started bleeding and we prepared for the worst. Thankfully her bladder was just severely inflamed and a round of antibiotics helped make it better. However, ever since she had been lethargic, dehydrated, not eating much and just not herself.

Fluid Treatment

We started Sub-Q fluid treatments at the vet clinic and that seem to perk her up, stimulate her appetite and she was more alert. After a few weeks of treatments it seemed worthwhile to explore administering the treatments at home for her comfort and to save money but I had no idea what to expect. I was sort of hoping it was like a frontline treatment I could just put on her back.

When the vet came in with the IV bag, line, and needles I was trying to suppress all my bad experiences in hospitals yet everything I was looking at reminded me of being in a hospital.

Treatment Instruction

As he quickly showed me how to start the line, talked about air bubbles and where to stick the needle in I said out loud “and then you try not to throw up”. He looked at me and seemed surprised that I might have a problem. I added “I hate needles” and internally I also thought and the last thing I want to do is hurt my cat who already is struggling.

Financial Savings

I asked what the cost savings was again to weigh in my head the benefits of doing this myself. It was significant. As I sat there thinking through what I needed to do I realized I needed to try and that it would require overcoming a major fear and doing something I wouldn’t choose to do. I know God would have to help me through this if this was something I was supposed to do.

Later that night I told me husband and asked if he could help. He said no way! It turns out, we both are going to overcome the fear together.

The post Overcoming Fear: Treating our cat with Sub-Q fluids at home appeared first on Stray Magnet | Helping Lost, Stray, and Abandoned Pets.